Jabloteh surge clear in Pro League

VICTORY by a 3-2 margin over Arima Fire on Sunday pushed T&T Pro League leaders CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh further into the lead as the 2003 season draws to a close.

And, with nearest rivals W Connection held to a goalless draw against the Eastern Lions,  Joe Public at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna, Jabloteh now sit comfortably atop the standings with 80 points from 31 matches, with Connection second on 68 points from 30 encounters.

Jabloteh’s never-say-die attitude saw them earn their 25th win of the season, at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, after they fell behind 2-0 at the half following goals from Ashford Legerton and Anthony Haynes. The firemen were powerless to stop the all-out Jabloteh charge, with Otis Seaton, Kerry Baptiste and Cornell Glen on target to give the San Juan lads full points. The body language of the Connection team on Sunday all but showed their resignation of a challenge to Jabloteh for the Pro League crown, as they struggled to overcome a plucky but inexperienced Lions defence.

Midfielder Gefferson Goulart failed to connect on two early chances for Connection while, on the stroke of halftime, he sent Titus Elva clear on the right and the dreadlocked striker sent his chip, over advancing goalkeeper Kelvin Graham, harmlessly wide off the mark. National Under-23 striker Kendall “Neck” Davis forced a reflex save from Graham in the 48th but the match pettered out into a drab stalemate.

Veteran striker Jerren Nixon got the winner for North East Stars, scoring after 35 minutes to give the Sangre Grande-based team a 1-0 triumph over Defence Force at the Sangre Grande Recreation Ground. And Jamaican forward Nicholas Addlery netted in the 12th to give South Starworld Strikers a 1-0 win over South West Institute of Football (SWIF) at the Palo Seco Recreation Ground. Round 32 action will take place tomorrow.

Under-20 Results: STARWORLD STRIKERS (0) vs SOUTH WEST INSTITUTE OF FOOTBALL (0); DEFENCE FORCE (5) — Kerry Joseph 13th, Clevon George 25th, Nkosi Aberdeen 32nd, Kenjay Simmons 62nd, Shanton Ollivierre 65th vs NORTH EAST STARS (0); W CONNECTION (3) ? Akil Pierre, Jason Marcano, Arnold Ferguson vs JOE PUBLIC (1).